Planner Group Desks
American
Brilliant self-trained American designer Paul McCobb collaborated with New York salesman B.G. Mesberg to create what is now a widely revered collection of mid-century modern furniture called the Planner Group. Produced by renowned manufacturer Winchendon Furniture Company, vintage Planner Group dressers, credenzas, chairs and other pieces bring honesty and heritage into any interior.
More than any other designer beside Russel Wright, the Massachusetts-born McCobb was arguably responsible for the introduction of modern design into middle-class American households — if for no other reason than that he designed the 1952 set for the original Today show.
Of McCobb’s cohesive lines of furnishings, his best-known Planner Group gave homes an instant “look.” McCobb designed for several companies, most notably Directional, the New York firm he cofounded with Mesberg that also produced designs by other legends such as Paul Evans and Vladimir Kagan.
Known for their superior quality and affordable prices aimed at new homeowners, vintage Winchendon case furniture, side tables and desks were must-have staples for middle-class Americans in the postwar years. McCobb and Mesberg’s Planner Group for the manufacturer boasts a wide range of furnishings created in woods such as walnut and maple.
McCobb drew on the simplicity of Shaker furniture and Windsor chairs and was an advocate for modular furniture. A new homeowner could plan for properly furnishing each room with the Planner collection — a brochure touted its versatility — beginning with a couple of pieces from the series and gradually introducing more seating, cabinets and tables, stacking and combining as needed.
McCobb shared the limelight with the likes of celebrated American designers Charles and Ray Eames and was supposed to appear in a 1961 issue of Playboy magazine — a mid-century tastemaker of sorts — alongside other designers such as Eero Saarinen, Harry Bertoia, Jens Risom and Edward Wormley. A social and charismatic figure, McCobb can be found in photos from a party that took place the night before, but he was too hungover the next day to join the photo shoot.
For more than a decade beginning in 1950, the Planner designs comprised the best-selling furniture suite in the United States.
Find vintage Planner Group furniture and other Paul McCobb furniture on 1stDibs.
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Creator: Planner Group
Midcentury Paul McCobb #1567 Four Drawer Desk Maple Black Finish Brass Pulls
By Planner Group, Paul McCobb
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Beautiful Paul McCobb Planner Group #1567 four drawer desk solid maple black finish brass pulls solid maple. Desk is in original vintage condition. Ve...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Planner Group Desks
Materials
Brass
Paul McCobb Planner Group Drop Front Desk with Sliding Door Credenza, Refinished
By Planner Group, Paul McCobb
Located in South Bend, IN
A rare and exceptional Mid-Century Modern drop front secretary desk cabinet with a lower sliding door credenza.
By Paul McCobb for Winchendon Furniture, "Planner Group"
USA, 1950s
Black lacquered solid maple, with white grass cloth sliding doors and original brass hardware.
Measures: 36"W x 15.25"D x 46.18"H. Desk height...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Planner Group Desks
Materials
Grasscloth, Maple, Lacquer
Midcentury Paul McCobb #1561 5 Drawer Desk Blonde Maple Finish Brass Pulls
By Planner Group, Paul McCobb
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Beautiful Paul McCobb Planner Group #1561 double pedestal 5 drawer desk blonde maple finish Brass knobs solid maple. Desk is in original vintage conditio...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Planner Group Desks
Materials
Brass
Paul McCobb Winchendon Planner Group Blonde Desk with Orange and White Drawers
By Planner Group, Paul McCobb, Winchendon
Located in Ferndale, MI
Paul McCobb designed desk for Winchendon Furniture in Mass. Part of the large Planner group collection Introduced in the early 1950s. Planner group being a collection of modular furn...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Planner Group Desks
Materials
Maple
Paul McCobb Writing Desk for Winchendon
By Planner Group, Paul McCobb
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This Mid-Century Modern writing desk by Paul McCobb features a wonderful maple finish with unique brass drawer pulls. Tapered legs and spacious four drawer design make this a stylish...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Planner Group Desks
Materials
Brass
Midcentury Paul McCobb #1567 four drawer Desk Maple black Finish brass Pulls
By Planner Group, Paul McCobb
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Beautiful Paul McCobb Planner Group #1567 four drawer desk solid maple black finish brass pulls solid maple. Desk is in original vintage condition. Ve...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Planner Group Desks
Materials
Brass
Midcentury Paul McCobb #1567 Four Drawer Desk Blonde Maple Finish Brass Pulls
By Planner Group, Paul McCobb
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Beautiful Paul McCobb Planner Group #1567 four drawer desk blonde maple finish brass pulls solid maple. Desk is in original vintage condition. Very be...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Planner Group Desks
Materials
Brass
Rare Midcentury Paul McCobb #1562 Drop Lid Desk on Low Credenza Maple White
By Planner Group, Paul McCobb
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Beautiful Paul McCobb planner group #1562 drop lid desk and sliding white doors 2 adjustable shelves blonde maple finish solid maple. This desk is refini...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Planner Group Desks
Materials
Steel
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Paul McCobb Planner Group Console Table for Winchendon, USA, 1950s
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Planner group side table by Paul McCobb for Winchendon Furniture.
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Mid-Century Credenza by Paul McCobb Planner Group #1513 Blonde Doors Maple
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Beautiful mid-century low credenza cabinet with blonde maple sliding doors by Paul McCobb circa 1950 planner group #1513 has 2 adjustable shelves with pins - solid maple construction...
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Midcentury Paul McCobb #1560 Double Drawer Desk Blonde Maple Finish Ring Pulls
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H 29 in W 48 in D 24 in
Desk French Style Writing Desk, Black Lacquer with Grey Leather Writing Surface
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H 31 in W 55.25 in D 27.75 in
Paul McCobb 6 Drawer Dresser Original Finish
By Paul McCobb
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Perfect for apartment living this compact (48in) dresser, designed by the great Paul McCobb in his Planner Group. McCobb, influenced by the English designer Thomas Sheridan used deli...
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1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Planner Group Desks
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Newly Refinished - Mid-Century Modern “Planner Group” Desk by Paul McCobb
By Paul McCobb, Winchendon
Located in Los Angeles, CA
With over 15 years of experience, our workshop has followed a careful process of restoration, showcasing our passion and creativity for vintage designs that can seamlessly be incorpo...
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H 29.25 in W 48.25 in D 19 in
Mid-Century Modern Paul McCobb Pedestal Desk
By Paul McCobb
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This vintage modern pedestal desk features the iconic mid-century design of Paul McCobb. Single sided writing desk offers two drawers for storage and organization and a spacious formica-style top for work. Slender tapered legs and unique McCobb drawer pulls...
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Pair of Paul McCobb Planner Group Maple Six Drawer Double Dressers
By Planner Group, Paul McCobb
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Pair of Paul McCobb planner group maple & black six drawer dressers, 1950's. Featuring classic Paul McCobb modular design including four rectangula...
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Mirror measures: 47" x 17". Dresser is 60" wide, 18.25" deep and 33" tall.
Paul McCobb Dresser and Mirror. A sophisticated restoration has been performed on two pieces and both are listed separately. This pieces provided a contrast between the black lacquer and the birch elements and brass knobs. An uncommon element to this suite is the seldom seen original Paul McCobb mirror...
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1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Planner Group Desks
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Previously Available Items
Paul McCobb Planner Group Writing Desk
By Paul McCobb, Planner Group
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Paul McCobb writing desk from the Planner Group Collection for Winchedon, c.1950s. This maple desk features two drawers with rounded black enamel knobs resting on two dowel legs. The...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Planner Group Desks
Materials
Enamel
Paul McCobb Planner Group Midcentury Desk
By Paul McCobb, Planner Group
Located in Countryside, IL
Paul McCobb planner group midcentury desk
This desk measures: 48 wide x 18.25 deep x 29 high, with a chair clearance of 23.5 inches
All pieces of furniture can be had in what w...
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1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Planner Group Desks
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Brass
Paul McCobb Planner Group Midcentury Modern Secretary Desk with Grasscloth Doors
By Winchendon Furniture (Planner Group), Paul McCobb, Winchendon Furniture Company, Planner Group
Located in Decatur, GA
Stellar Paul McCobb model 1564-b drop down desk with moss green grasscloth sliding doors, circa 1953. This example is unique on the market currently. Desirable inset splayed tapered ...
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1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Planner Group Desks
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Brass
H 46 in W 36 in D 16.5 in
Paul McCobb Planner Group Drop Front Desk with Sliding Door Credenza, Refinished
By Paul McCobb, Planner Group
Located in South Bend, IN
A rare and exceptional Mid-Century Modern drop front secretary desk cabinet with a lower sliding door credenza
By Paul McCobb for Winchendon Furniture, "Planner Group"
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Brass
H 46.38 in W 36 in D 15.38 in
Paul McCobb Winchendon Planner Group Mid-Century Modern Desk in Dark Espresso
By Paul McCobb, Planner Group
Located in St. Louis, MO
Paul McCobb Planner Group desk shown in dark espresso stain, with bank of drawers with polished tapered brass pulls on left side and two tapered angular dowel legs on the right, To b...
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1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Planner Group Desks
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H 30 in W 48 in D 24 in
Rare Midcentury Paul McCobb #1562 Drop Lid Desk W/Organizer Maple T Pulls
By Paul McCobb, Planner Group
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Beautiful Paul McCobb planner group #1562 drop lid desk with Rare organizer inside and adjustable glass shelf blonde maple finish T-pulls all solid maple...
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Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Planner Group Desks
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Steel
Paul McCobb Planner Group Drop Front Desk with Sliding Door Credenza, Refinished
By Paul McCobb, Planner Group
Located in South Bend, IN
A rare and exceptional mid-century modern drop front secretary desk cabinet with a lower sliding door credenza
By Paul McCobb for Winchendon Furniture, "Planner Group"
USA, 195...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Planner Group Desks
Materials
Grasscloth, Maple, Lacquer
H 46.25 in W 36 in D 15.5 in
Desk by Paul McCobb Planner Group for Winchendon in Maple
By Paul McCobb, Planner Group
Located in Littleton, CO
Model #1560 double drawer Planner Group desk in maple by Paul McCobb for Winchendon.
Original brass pulls.
This desk is structurally sound, but ready for refinishing. Expert profes...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Planner Group Desks
Materials
Maple
Paul McCobb for Planner Group Mid Century Desk and Chair
By Paul McCobb, Planner Group
Located in Countryside, IL
Paul McCobb for Planner group mid century desk and chair
This desk measures: 48 wide x 24 deep x 29.5 inches high, with a chair clearance...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Planner Group Desks
Materials
Brass
Paul McCobb for Planner Group Mid Century Maple Desk
By Paul McCobb, Planner Group
Located in Countryside, IL
Paul McCobb for Planner Group mid century maple desk
This desk measures: 53 wide x 26.25 deep x 29 inches high, with a chair clearance of 28.25 inches
All pieces of furniture c...
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1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Planner Group Desks
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Paul McCobb Planner Group Writing Desk
By Paul McCobb, Planner Group, Winchendon Furniture (Planner Group)
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Paul McCobb writing desk from the Planner Group Collection for Winchedon, c.1950s. This maple desk features five drawers with solid brass knob...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Planner Group Desks
Materials
Brass
Paul McCobb for Planner Group Mid Century Maple Desk
By Planner Group, Paul McCobb
Located in Countryside, IL
Paul McCobb for Planner Group mid century maple desk
This desk measures: 48 wide x 24.25 deep x 29 inches high, with a chair clearance of 28.25 inches
?All pieces of furniture ...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Planner Group Desks
Materials
Maple
Planner Group desks for sale on 1stDibs.
Planner Group desks are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Planner Group desks, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original desks by Planner Group were created in the mid-century modern style in united states during the mid-20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider desks by Florence Knoll, Dunbar, and Knoll. Prices for Planner Group desks can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $1,610 and can go as high as $9,950, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $3,200.
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